Still on the borders of Europe

An ever more strategic country in terms of regional and international balances, with a foot inside and a foot outside Europe, Turkey is approaching the national elections of March 30 in a heated-up atmosphere after the Taskim revolt, the episodes of corruption, human rights violations. In the long-term, August presidential elections and the G20 presidency, a role that Ankara is due to assume in 2015. Another challenge is the consolidation of the recovery of dialogue on the negotiations for EU adhesion on which weigh the latest manoeuvres of premier Recep Tayyip Erdogan in terms of justice and freedom of expression, and the reservations of Germany and France. A heated atmosphere. The heated atmosphere was inflamed on March 11, with the death of fifteen-year-old Berkin Elvan, symbol of Gezi Park, hit by a tear gas granade shot by policemen during an anti-governmental demonstration in defence of Gezi Park. The movement of the same name was born in Istanbul to oppose the project envisaging the destruction of the park in Taskim Square to make room for a huge shopping mall. The demonstrations against tree cutting broke out on 27 May and, after a brutal police intervention against the sit-in with tear gas and water cannons, May 31 demonstrations had extended to other cities. The crackdown resulted in a tragic death toll: seven casualties among the demonstrators, which rose to eight with Elvan past Tuesday, and over 8 thousand injured. Clashes ensued also on the day of the youth’s funeral. Participants exhibited placards against the government and shouted slogans against the prime minister, his Islamic party AKP and the police. To disperse the demonstrators, the police again made use of water cannons and tear gas, and there is talk of at least 20 others injured and 150 arrests. But anti-government protests continued across the country, causing two other victims, including a policeman struck by a heart attack. Demonstrations are ongoing, albeit in minor tone, and the photo taken in Ankara of the television journalist Husna Sari, hit by a police water cannon while reporting on three thousand people protesting in front of Parliament against the trials of hundreds of senior officers accused of alleged attempts at coups d’état in the last decade, were broadcast worldwide. Relations with the EU. A member of the Council of Europe since 1949, Turkey is also called to meet the challenges tied to the resumption of EU adhesion negotiations. Ankara-Brussels talks, that began on October 3 2005, were resumed in the last months of 2013 after they had been frozen for almost three and a half years. Only 14 of 35 negotiation chapters were opened, one of which is closed to date. Meanwhile, in a resolution adopted on 12 March, with 475 votes in favour 153 against and 43 abstentions, the European Parliament expressed concern about the “purges” enacted by the government, which removed prosecutors and chiefs of police involved in corruption investigations of the executive. According to MPs, the adopted measures violate the fundamental principles of an independent judicial system. Moreover, the resolution voices concern over the accusations of corruption that overwhelmed the highest offices and urges to prioritize the reforms for the modernization and the strengthening of democracy in the Country. “Turkey has undertaken the path of reforms for the good of its citizens – said rapporteur Ria Oomen-Ruijten – but recent developments in the area of fundamental freedoms, independence of the judiciary and freedom of expression, are a grave cause for concern”. The Country, underlines the rapporteur, “must show a real commitment towards its European aspirations and towards the values on which the EU is based on”. Measures taken by the government in Ankara to limit freedom in the use of the Internet, restrictions on fundamental rights according to MEPs, “may prevent Turkey from meeting the Copenhagen criteria for EU accession”. Chapter 22 on regional policy was reopened. But chapters 23 (the judiciary and fundamental rights) and 24 (justice and home affairs) are yet to be addressed. The wave of unprecedented protests, according to deputies, “reflects the legitimate aspirations of many Turkish citizens to a real democracy”. “For this reason the EU Parliament demands that freedom of religion and association are guaranteed and it encourages the Turkish authorities to carry out the reforms needed to promote the social, cultural and economic rights of the Kurdish community. In the meantime a readmission agreement was signed under which the Ankara government is committed to un-ban illegal immigrants in the EU that crossed its territory in return for future abolition of visa requirements for Turkish citizens who want to enter the Community area.